Rare Holden Torana A9X up for sale

Wednesday, 3 June 2020

A piece of Aussie motoring history has come up for sale over in Sydney. A rare Holden Torana A9X is up for grabs at the low, low price of half a million dollars.

The A9X package was only applied to 100 Torana hatchbacks and this is one of two offered in Atlantis Blue with a tan vinyl interior. It has a documented 47,672 kays on the clock and rides on genuine day one rims.

It was produced to allow the Holden Racing Team entrance into the Group C class of the Australian Touring Car series. Race cars had to be based on road car models and the A9X pack allowed Holden to increase engine power via a rear-facing bonnet scoop that allowed more airflow into the 5.0-litre V8.

Fancy a mint condition A9X Torana? You'll be parting with more than half a million to get it.

Power for the road-going Torana SS was 161kW, which Holden claimed remained unchanged for the A9X, though worked-over racing engines were said to have produced more than 280kW.

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This is just one of two ever made in Atlantis blue with contrasting tan interior.

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Power was a claimed 161kW but the engine could produce more than 280kW in race trim.

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Handling performance was improved by rear disc brakes, heavy-duty axles and a heavy-duty '10 bolt' differential.

Peter Brock took the new racer to victory in its first outing at Sandown Raceway in 1977 before the A9X Torana was refined and dominated the next two years.

While Brock lost the 1977 Bathurst 1000 to the Ford Falcons of the time, the 1979 running of the race showed the true pace of the A9X Torana with Brock winning by six laps and setting the lap record on the final circuit.

The example selling in Sydney is starting at AU$495,000 (NZ$535,769), making it the most valuable road-going Torana ever (assuming it sells, of course). The previous record holder sold for NZ$395k in 2018.

However, the most expensive Torana was a former Bathurst racer driven by Bob Morris, which sold in 2017 for NZ$773,888

This model also comes with the original 'Hatch Hutch', for those interested in camping out with their A9X.

The Holden Torana A9X hatchback is being offered by Mike Selby at Australian Muscle Car Sales and can be viewed here.